Tristan (Gottfried) Literary Elements

Tristan (Gottfried) Literary Elements

Genre

Fiction

Setting and Context

The book is written in the Middle Ages in the context of love.

Narrator and Point of View

Third-person narration

Tone and Mood

Friendly, optimistic, indignant

Protagonist and Antagonist

The main protagonist is Tristan.

Major Conflict

The major conflict is that Tristan is supposed to fall in love with Isolde, not because of true romance, but a love potion. Consequently, Tristan and Isolde go against societal traditions when they fall in love with each other.

Climax

Tristan learns about his biological father, Rivalin, reminding him that he is the true Lord of Parmenie.

Foreshadowing

The ingestion of the love potion by Tristan foreshadowed his predestined future.

Understatement

Love is understated in the text. For instance, love is influenced through a love potion instead of flowing naturally.

Allusions

The story alludes to the traditions of throne inheritance as depicted by the actions of the characters.

Imagery

The description of Tristan's intelligence and Isolde paints a vivid picture of their mental abilities.

Paradox

Tristan is a paradoxical character. For instance, Tristan is depicted as a violent character, but he is a romantic character at the same time.

Parallelism

Tristan’s intelligence parallels Isolde’s.

Metonymy and Synecdoche

N/A

Personification

The love potion is personified as an influencer who dictates a person to fall in love with.

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